Wales legend Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from football, calling time on a glittering 18-year career and going down in history as one of, if not the, greatest Welsh footballer of all time.
In an emotional statement, the former Wales captain, who in November led his country at their first World Cup in 64 years, said he felt "incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love," adding that football "has truly given me some of the best moments of my life."
He also thanked his former clubs, coaches, family and fans for their support, before adding that playing for Wales has "changed not only my life but who I am". You can read the full statement here.
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At the age of 33, Bale now has a long retirement ahead of him. But while many of us may use our newfound spare time to improve our golf game, the former Tottenham and Real Madrid star is already pretty good, having become infamous for his love of the sport in recent years and even coming under fire for it during his time in Spain.
Having been heavily criticised by the Spanish press for the amount of time he spent on the golf course and not on the football pitch, Bale and his Welsh team-mates poked fun by unveiling a flag that read: “Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order," after qualifying for Euro 2020..
He was nicknamed 'The Golfer' by his Real Madrid team-mates, and even has a three-hole golf course at his home in Cardiff, with the holes modelled on the 17th at Sawgrass, the eighth at Royal Troon and the 12th at Augusta. Then, of course, there's his mini-golf themed bar, called Par59, that opened in both Cardiff and Bristol last year.
His well-documented love for golf has paid off, however, with the star reportedly playing off a handicap of two as of late 2022, having previously been a "respectable six" back in 2015.
However, while many would call it an obsession, Bale has claimed that golf is just a hobby and a way for him to unwind, explaining: "Football is my number one sport. I'm paid to do it and I always give my best. Golf is a hobby like anyone else would have a hobby.
"There is nothing wrong with having a round. People make a lot of it, but a lot of footballers play and it's one thing I really enjoy. It keeps me calmer off the pitch and gives me time away from football which is nice.”
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